Life-saving apparatus.



No, 659,383. Patented Oct. l6, I900. D. S. WEBSTER.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS.

(APPHCEHOD filed Ant. 30. 1900.) 2 Sheets-Sheet a.

No. 659,883. Patented 00f. "5,1900.

D. S. WEBSTER.

LIFE SAVING. APPARATUS.

(Annlieation filed Apr. 30, 1900.) Modem 2 Sheets-Sheet z,

' view.

Unirnn DEAN S. \VEBSTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LlFE-SAVlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 659,883, dated October16, 1900.

Application filed April 30, 1900.

To all whom it may concern.-

Ee itknown that I, DEAN SWEBSTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus;and I do hereby declare the following, to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lifesaving apparatus chiefly designed for useat sea when the ship or vessel is in a sinking condition. The applianceis constructed with a view to being stored in a com paratively-sm allspace consistent with its capacity and adapted to be quickly set up foruse and launched when required.

' For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the meansfor effecting the result reference is to be had to the followingdescription and drawings hereto attached.

WVhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodim entof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a ship, showing the appliance inposition to be lowered. Fig. 2 is a detail view in perspective of thedevice under sail. Fig. 3 is atop plan Fig. f is a longitudinal sectionon the line X X of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line YY of Fig. 3.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following descriptionand indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

The appliance is in the nature of a raft and comprises a series ofspaced floats 1, disposed in longitudinal parallel relation, sisterkeelsons 2, filling the upper portion of the spaces between adjacentfloats, and bulwarks secured to the sister keelsons and consisting of alight but substantial framework constructed to fold inward, so as toadmit of the size of the appliance being materially reduced when notrequired for immediate service.

The floats l are hollow bodies and their ends are made tapering and ofsuch construction as to admit of their plowing the water Serial No.14,991. (No model.)

with a minimum resistance. The number of the floats will depend upon thetransverse extent of the appliance. The extremities of the tapering endsof the floats are reinforced by metal or wooden pieces 4, which aresecured to the body of the floats in such a manner as to admit of theirready detachment when it is required to gain access to the interior ofthe floats for any purpose. In the preferable construction the floatsare formed of a textile or flexible material, which will admit of theirfolding into a small compass when deflated. The float-s may be of anylength and cross-sectionaloutline and are preferablyofcylindrical formand are collapsible, and when in condition for active service areinflated. The air may be pumped directlyinto the floats or into tubes orsacks 6, fitted within the floats,valvestems 10 being applied to thefloats and adapted to have the inflating means applied thereto in thewell-known manner.

It is contemplated to utilize a portion of the floats for storing water,coffee, or other desired liquid, and forthis purpose reservoirs 5 arelocated in one or more of the floats and are secured to the inner wallthereof. Access is had to the reservoirs 5 by means of plug-controlledopenings 8, to which a tube 17, provided with a faucet, is adapted to befitted to draw off the liquid contents of the reservoirs when required.As previously stated, the reservoirs 5 are flexible and collapsible, andwhen the floats are inflated the air confined under pressure exerts aforce upon the flexible sides of the reservoirs which normally tends tocollapse them. Hence when opening the faucet applied to the tube 17 theliquid is forcibly expelled therethrough by means of the pressure uponthe sides of the reservoirs. WVhen one reservoir is emptied, the tube 17can be disconnected there from and applied to any other reservoir fordrawing off the liquid contents therefrom in the manner stated. In thisconnection it is to be understood that the air confined in the floatsmay exert a direct pressure against the sides of the reservoir, whichwill be the case when the inner tubes are dispensed with, or said airmay act indirectly through the inner tubes when the latter are employed,as most clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

While it is preferable to construct the floats 1 of flexible material,so as to admit of their collapsing and foldingin asmall space, it isalso deemed desirable and preferable to construct the sister keelsons 2of metal, because of the strength and stability resulting to the generalstructure of the appliance. The sister keelsons brace and stiffen theappliance longitudinally and being hollow add to the buoyancy of thestructure and serve to provide additional storage-chambers forcontaining food and sundry articles, which are obtainable'throughopenings 7, formed in the top side thereof. The sister keelsons areconnected transversely by beams or plates 3, which are rigidly attachedthereto. The parts 3 and 2 constitute, in effect, a rigid frame. Thetransverse beams 3 are connected at their ends by longitudinal beams 3,which likewise constitute an essential part of the framework. Intransverse section the sister keelsons conform to the upper half of thespace formed between adjacent floats, and their sides are hollow orconcave and their top and bottom sides are flat and parallel. The floatsare bonded in any substantial manner, as by bands 11, which encirclethem and are secured thereto and to each other at points intermediate ofthe said floats.

To give additional strength and stiffness to the contrivance and preventinjury thereto, wales 18 are applied to the sides of the outermost orextre me floats and consist of wooden strips attached in any manner tothe sides of said floats. Life-lines and floats 9 are provided at thesides of the device and are.

secured to the frame.

The appliance is steered by means of a rudder 14 and helm 15 in theusual manner and is adapted to be propelled through the water by meansof oars orv sail. Oar-locks 19 are applied to the side beams of theframe to receive the oars when the latter are resorted to for impellingthe appliance through the water. When sail is set, the mast A is securedin the step 16, applied to the frame, and is braced by stays in theWell-known manner. The bulwarks consist, essentially, of end and sideframes 12 and canvas 13, secured to said frames, and the sides adaptedto be laced at the corners when turned into an approximately-verticalposition.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the contrivance on board ship itis provided at its ends with span painters B, which are adapted to beattached to the fall-blocks of the tackle applied to the ships davits,as most clearlyindicated in Fig. 1. The contrivance may be materiallyreduced in size, so as to be conveniently stored on board of a vessel,and can be housed between decks of man-of-war ships. When required forservice, the floats can be quickly inflated and the bulwarks set up andthe device attached to the lowering-tackle for launching at a momentsnotice.

The bands 11 consist of flexible strips passed around the floats inopposite directions and meeting in the spaces formed between adjacentfloats on a line about midway between the top and bottom sides of saidfloats. These bands prevent outward displacement of the floats, inwardmovement being prevented by the interposed sister keelsons. By havingthe keelsons constructed of metal they are adapted to brace thestructure longitudinally, and additional strength is obtained byproviding the outermost keelsons with a longitudinal plate 0, which isflanged at its longitudinal edges and secured, respectively, to the topand bottom sides of the keelsons.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Inlife-saving apparatus of the character described, a connected series ofhollow floats constituting storage-chambers, sister keelsons filling theupper portion of the spaces formed between adjacent floats and of hollowconstruction and adapted to provide additional storage-chambers, andbeams connecting the sister keelsons and forming therewith asupporting-frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In life-saving apparatus, a hollow float adapted to be charged withair under pressure, and a collapsible storage-chamber located within thefloat and adapted to hate its liquid contents expelled by the expansiveaction of the compressed air, substantially as set forth.

3. In life-saving apparatus, a hollow float, an inner tube or inflatabledevice located within the float and adapted to be charged with air underpressure, and a collapsible reservoir for containing a liquid located inthe float and normally under pressure by the action of the air confinedin the aforesaid inflatable device, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DEAN S. WEBSTER. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

ALLAN P. MILLAR, SADIE AGNEW.

